Composition and method for low temperature deposition of silicon-containing films such as films including silicon, silicon nitride, silicon dioxide and/or silicon-oxynitride

ABSTRACT

Silicon precursors for forming silicon-containing films in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, such as low dielectric constant (k) thin films, high k gate silicates, low temperature silicon epitaxial films, and films containing silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), siliconoxynitride (Sio x N y ) and/or silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). The precursors of the invention are amenable to use in low temperature (e.g., &lt;500° C.) chemical vapor deposition processes, for fabrication of ULSI devices and device structures.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/838,441 filed Jul. 17, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,910,765 issued on Mar. 22, 2011), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/464,726 filed May 12, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,786,320 issued on Aug. 31, 2010), which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/294,431 filed Nov. 14, 2002, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,531,679 issued May 12, 2009). The disclosures of the foregoing respective patents and applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties, for all purposes, and the priorities of such respective applications are hereby claimed under the provisions of 35 USC §120.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the formation of silicon-containing films in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more specifically to compositions and methods for forming such films, e.g., films comprising silicon, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), siliconoxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), etc., low dielectric constant (k) thin silicon-containing films, high k gate silicate films and low temperature silicon epitaxial films.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In semiconductor manufacturing, thin (e.g., <1,000 nanometers thickness) passive layers of chemically inert dielectric materials, such as silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), siliconoxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)) and/or silicon dioxide (SiO₂), are widely employed in microelectronic device structures, to function as structural elements of the multi-layered structure, such as sidewall spacer elements, diffusion masks, oxidation barriers, trench isolation coatings, inter-metallic dielectric materials, passivation layers and etch-stop layers.

Deposition of silicon-containing films by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques is a highly attractive methodology for forming such films. CVD processes involving low deposition temperatures are particularly desired, e.g., temperatures less than about 550° C., but require the availability and use of suitable precursor compositions for such purpose.

Precursors suitable for the formation of dielectric silicon-containing films on semiconductor substrates at low temperatures, e.g., less than about 550° C., must meet the following criteria:

-   -   (1) be highly volatile, with liquids having boiling points         <250° C. at atmospheric pressure being generally preferred,         since higher boiling points make delivery of the precursor         disproportionately more difficult for the intended application;     -   (2) be thermally stable and less hazardous, relative to silanes,         disilane and polysilanes, including silicon source compounds         such as trichlorosilane and hexachlorodisilane;     -   (3) have minimum halogen content, to correspondingly minimize         formation of particulates and clogging of CVD system pumps by         solid byproducts such as quaternary ammonium salts;     -   (4) preferably be free of direct Si—C bonds, to correspondingly         minimize carbon contamination of the product films;     -   (5) be free of pyrophoricity as well as any susceptibility to         detonation and/or rapid decomposition during storage;     -   (6) preferably have reactive sites consistent with low         activation energies in the case of silicon nitride deposition;         and     -   (7) have stable organic ligands providing sustained resonance         time on the substrate surface to provide high conformality and         uniformity of the deposited film, with the organo moiety         subsequently being readily liberated, e.g., by a decomposition         pathway or co-reaction with another species.

As an example of the foregoing considerations, hexachlorodisilane, Cl₃Si—SiCl₃, might on initial consideration appear to be a suitable candidate precursor for CVD formation of silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride and/or silicon nitride thin film structures, since it possesses a weak silicon-silicon bond, rendering it ostensibly amenable to use at low CVD process temperatures, but such compound is reported to oxidatively decompose to a shock-sensitive material, and shock, long-term storage and/or high temperature handling may result in spontaneous detonation of the compound. Such adverse potential effects therefore cause hexachlorodisilane to be less preferred for use as a silicon-containing film precursor for forming silicon-containing films, e.g., of silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride and/or silicon nitride, on a substrate.

Among silicon-containing films, silicon nitride poses particular problems. Silicon nitride deposition at temperatures below 500° C. has attracted particular interest for fabrication of microelectronic device structures, such as diffusion barriers, etch-stop layers and side-wall spacers, with tight geometric characteristics and reduced feature size (<130 nanometers). For the next generation of ultra-large scale integration (ULSI) devices, deposition precursors and processes are desired that accommodate deposition of silicon nitride films at temperatures not exceeding about 450° C. Currently used precursors, e.g., BTBAS or silane/ammonia, typically require temperatures above 600° C. to form high quality Si₃N₄ films.

The art therefore has a continuing need for improved precursors amenable to deposition methods such as chemical vapor deposition, for forming silicon-containing films of the aforementioned types.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the formation of silicon-containing films in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and more specifically to compositions and methods for forming such silicon-containing films, such as films comprising silicon, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), siliconoxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), etc., silicon-containing low k films, high k gate silicates, and silicon epitaxial films.

The present invention in one aspect relates to a silicon compound selected from the group consisting of:

(A) compounds of the formula:

[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (1)

wherein: R¹ and R² may be the same as or different from one another and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen (e.g., bromine, fluorine and chlorine), hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2; (B) compounds of the formula

wherein: each of R₃ can be the same as or different from the other and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; and each of R₄, R₅ and R₆ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, Si(CH₃)₃ and SiCl₃; (C) metal source reagent complexes formed by metal cation reaction with deprotonated anionic forms of the compounds (B); (D) disilicon cycloamides of the formulae (3)-(6):

wherein: each of R₈ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; and each of R₉ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H and NR₈H where R₈ is as defined above; and (E) cyclosilicon compounds of the formula:

wherein: each of R₁₀ and R₁₁ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of forming a silicon-containing film on a substrate, comprising contacting a substrate under chemical vapor deposition conditions including temperature below 600° C. with a vapor of a silicon compound of a type as described above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of making a silicon compound of the formula

[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (1)

wherein: R¹ and R² may be the same as or different from one another and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen (e.g., bromine, fluorine and chlorine), hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2, such method comprising reacting a disilane compound of the formula X₃Si—SiX₃ with an amine (R¹R²NH) or lithium amide ((R¹R²N)Li compound, wherein X, R¹ and R² are as set out above, according to a reaction selected from the group consisting of the following reactions:

X₃Si—SiX₃+R¹R²NH(ex)→[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (A)

X₃Si—SiX₃+(R¹R²N)Li→[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (B)

A still further aspect of the invention relates to a method of forming a metal, metal nitride or metal oxide film on a substrate, comprising contacting said substrate with a precursor metal complex formed by ionic reaction of metal cation with a deprotonated anionic form of a silicon compound of the formula (2) above, e.g., a compound such as

wherein each of the R substituents may be the same as or different from the other and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of forming a silicon nitride film on a substrate by chemical vapor deposition, comprising contacting said substrate with vapor of silicon source and nitrogen source compounds, wherein said nitrogen source compounds are other than nitrogen or ammonia, and said chemical vapor deposition is conducted at temperature <550° C., wherein said nitrogen source compound is selected from the group consisting of R-diazo compounds, wherein R is H, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, triazoles, tetrazoles, amadines, silylazides, small ring nitrogen compounds, and molecules including organic acyclic or cyclic moieties that contain one or more —N—N bonds.

Still another aspect of this invention relates to a method of forming a silicon epitaxial layer on a substrate at low temperature, e.g., a temperature below about 600° C., and preferably below 550° C., by contacting the substrate with a silicon precursor in the presence of a substantial excess of a reducing agent, such as hydrogen, silane (SiH₄) or disilane (Si₂H₆).

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃.

FIG. 2 is a ¹³C NMR spectrum of (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃.

FIG. 3 is an STA plot for (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃.

FIG. 4 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂.

FIG. 5 is a ¹³C NMR spectrum of (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂.

FIG. 6 is an STA plot for (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂.

FIG. 7 is an ¹H-NMR spectrum of (Bu^(t)NH)₂Si(H)Cl in C₆D₆.

FIG. 8 is an ¹H-NMR spectrum of 1-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane in C₆D₆.

FIG. 9 is an STA plot for 1-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane.

FIG. 10 is a plot of deposition rate as a function of temperature for (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃ at 10 torr, 10 sccm NH₃, 10 sccm He, and 0.1 ml/minute.

FIG. 11 is a plot of deposition rate as a function of temperature for (NEt₂)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂ at 10 torr, 10 sccm NH₃, 10 sccm He, and 0.2 ml/minute.

FIG. 12 is a plot of deposition rate as a function of temperature for cyclotrimethylene-bis(t-butylamino)silane at 10 sccm NH₃, 10 sccm He, and 0.2 ml/minute.

FIG. 13 is a plot of deposition rate as a function of temperature 1-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane at 10 torr, 10 sccm NH₃, 10 sccm He, and 0.2 ml/minute.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

The present invention relates to silicon precursors for CVD formation of films on substrates, such as silicon precursors for forming low k dielectric films, high k gate silicates, low temperature silicon epitaxial films, and films comprising silicon, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride, etc., as well as to corresponding processes for forming such films with such precursors.

In one aspect, the invention provides as such precursor a compound of the formula:

[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (1)

wherein: R¹ and R² may be the same as or different from one another and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen (e.g., bromine, fluorine and chlorine), hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2.

One preferred class of compounds of formula (1) has the formula:

wherein R¹ and R² are as defined in connection with formula (1).

The compounds of formula (1) are usefully employed for forming films on substrates, e.g., by chemical vapor deposition at temperature <500° C. The films that can be formed using such precursor compounds include low dielectric constant (k) thin films, high k gate silicates and silicon epitaxial films. In one aspect of the invention, the films formed using such precursors comprise silicon, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride and/or silicon nitride.

Preferred compounds of formula (1) include (Et₂N)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂, (EtNH)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃, (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂, (Me₂N)₂ClSi—SiCl(NMe₂)₂, Cl₂HSi—SiHCl₂, (EtNH)₂HSi—SiH(NHEt)₂, and the like.

Compounds of formula (1) are readily synthesized by reaction of disilane compounds of the formula X₃Si—SiX₃ with amine (R¹R²NH) or lithium amide ((R¹R²N)Li compounds, wherein X, R¹ and R² are as set out above, according to following reactions:

X₃Si—SiX₃+R¹R²NH(ex)→[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (A)

X₃Si—SiX₃+(R¹R²N)Li→[SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂  (B)

as hereinafter more fully described in the examples herein.

In specific applications, it may be necessary or desirable to conduct a second reaction to introduce hydrogen in place of the halogen.

The invention in another aspect provides a further class of silicon precursor compounds, comprising nitrogen-containing cyclosilicon compounds of the formula:

wherein: each of R₃ can be the same as or different from the other and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; and each of R₄, R₅ and R₆ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, Si(CH₃)₃ and SiCl₃. A preferred class of compounds of formula (2) includes the compounds of formula (2a):

wherein each of the R substituents may be the same as or different from the other and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl. In one preferred compound of such type, both R substituents are hydrogen. In another preferred compound of such type, both R substituents are methyl.

The precursors of formula (2a) contain two silicon atoms in a four-member ring structure with four tertiary butyl (Bu^(t)) groups on the nitrogen atoms. In such compositions, as employed for chemical vapor deposition of silicon nitride, the tertiary butyl groups are effective leaving groups, so that there is minimal Bu^(t)-associated carbon incorporation into films formed from such precursors. In one preferred aspect of the invention, such precursors are usefully employed in low temperature (<500° C.) CVD processes as precursors for silicon nitride films.

With reference to the silicon compounds of formula (2a), another class of compounds of the present invention includes those corresponding to formula (2a) but wherein the tertiary butyl (Bu^(t)) groups are replaced by trimethylsilyl (—SiMe₃) or trichlorosilyl (—SiCl₃) groups.

The precursors of formulae (2) and (2a) can be advantageously employed as ligands to form corresponding metal complexes, by deprotonation reaction serving to remove the hydrogen substituents of hydrogen-bearing groups, e.g., the tertiary butyl (Bu^(t)) groups on the nitrogen atoms in formula (2a), to form corresponding anionic species, followed by reaction of the anionic species with metal cations (which can be any metal or transition metal of the Periodic Table, e.g., hafnium (Hf), zirconium (Zr), barium (Ba), etc.) to form corresponding neutral metal source reagent complexes. Such metal source reagent complexes are usefully employed as CVD precursors for metal nitrides, metal oxides and pure metal films.

The precursors of formula (2) and their corresponding metal complexes are usefully employed for forming thin films on substrates by chemical vapor deposition.

Another class of silicon precursors in accordance with the invention, which are amenable to CVD use at low temperatures, such as in the range of from about 350° C. to about 550° C. for pre and post metal deposition of thin (e.g., 500 Angstroms to 1 micrometer thickness) dielectric films of silicon nitride or silicon dioxide in semiconductor manufacturing, or otherwise for forming silicon nitride or silicon dioxide ceramic thin films as well as films on different substrates, at temperatures in the range of from about 100° C. to about 600° C., comprise the disilicon cycloamides of the formulae (3)-(6):

wherein: each of R₈ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; and each of R₉ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H and NR₈H where R₈ is as defined above.

Another class of compounds useful as silicon precursors in the practice of the invention include those of formula (7):

wherein: each of R₁₀ and R₁₁ can be the same as or different from the others and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.

One preferred compound of those of formula (7) is the cyclosilicon compound wherein each of R₁₀ and R₁₁ is tertiary butyl (Bu^(t)).

The compounds of formulae (1)-(7) can be reacted with suitable co-reactants at relatively low activation energies, as for example in accordance with the reaction scheme (C) shown below:

In reaction scheme (C), “Precursors” are any of the precursor compounds of formulae (1)-(7). The co-reactant can be (i) oxygen, ozone or CO₂ to form low k dielectric films, (ii) oxygen or a combination of oxygen and nitrogen at deposition temperature <600° C. to form silicon dioxide, (iii) ammonia “or A,” wherein “A” is selected from the group consisting of R₃Si—N₃, R—N═NR′ and R—N═N⁺═NR′, each R is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₃ alkyl substituents, R′ is R or H, and such co-reactant species is employed at deposition temperature <600° C. to form silicon nitride, (iv) dinitrogen oxide (nitrous oxide, N₂O), or a mixture of nitrous oxide and ammonia, at temperature <600° C., to form silicon oxynitride, (v) hydrogen and silane, for low temperature silicon epitaxy, and (vi) hafnium and/or zirconium sources, in the presence of oxygen and nitrous oxide, to form silicate gate structures.

In accordance with reaction scheme (C), the type of dielectric film produced by the corresponding CVD process can be tailored by choice of the specific co-reactant. For example, hydrogen, ammonia, oxygen or nitrous oxide may be used as alternative single reactants to form the respective silicon nitride, silicon dioxide or silicon oxynitride single component films, or a mixture of two or more of such reactants can be employed in the CVD process with selected one(s) of the formulae (1)-(7) precursors to form corresponding multi-component films, or graded composition films. Other co-reactants may be added to introduce other elemental species (e.g., hafnium, zirconium, barium, titanium, tantalum, etc.).

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of forming a silicon epitaxial layer on a substrate at temperature below about 600° C., preferably less than about 550° C., by contacting the substrate with a silicon precursor in the presence of a substantial excess of a reducing agent, e.g., a reducing agent such as hydrogen, silane (SiH₄), disilane (Si₂H₆), etc.

A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of silicon source compounds with nitrogen source compounds other than nitrogen or ammonia that afford lower activation energy formation of silicon nitride on a substrate, at temperatures <550° C. The use of such alternative co-reactant nitrogen source compounds overcomes the difficulty of depositing silicon nitride at reasonable deposition rates at temperature below 550° C. due to the high activation energy required for nitrogen or ammonia to form Si—N bonds in such low temperature regime.

The use of low activation energy co-reactant nitrogen source compounds permits silicon source compounds that would otherwise be unacceptable in use with ammonia or nitrogen, to be efficiently employed to deposit silicon-containing and nitrogen-containing films at temperatures <550° C. Low activation energy co-reactant nitrogen source compounds for such purpose can be of any suitable type, including for example R-diazo compounds, wherein R is H, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, triazoles and tetrazoles, amadines, silylazides, small ring nitrogen compounds such as aziridines, or molecules including organic acyclic or cyclic moieties that contain one or more —N—N bonds.

In use, co-reactants of the foregoing types are introduced to the CVD reactor as reactive gases, along with the silicon source compound(s). Co-reactant reactive gases of such types, comprising compounds that contain multiple nitrogen atoms, can be used with reactive disilanes such as hexachlorodisilane that would otherwise be wholly unsuitable for formation of silicon nitride films at temperatures <550° C. In such usage, particulate formation is controlled under optimized CVD process conditions to eliminate particle-generating homogenous gas-phase reactions.

In application of the co-reactant reaction scheme (C), the silicon-containing precursor is reacted with a desired co-reactant in any suitable manner, e.g., in a single wafer CVD chamber, or in a furnace containing multiple wafers, utilizing process conditions including temperature <550° C. and appertaining pressures, concentrations, flow rates and CVD techniques, as readily determinable within the skill of the art for a given application, based on the disclosure herein.

By way of example, in the application of such co-reactant scheme, silicon nitride films can be deposited by deposition techniques such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) involving sequenced pulses wherein the two or more reactants are sequentially introduced to react on the surface bearing the adsorbed reactant species, to form one monolayer of the SiN film at a time.

Alternatively, silicon nitride films can be formed by low-pressure CVD techniques, e.g., by a single-wafer deposition process at pressure in a range of from about 1 to about 1000 torr, or in a batch deposition furnace procedure at low pressure such as pressure <4 torr, involving chemical reactions that take place in a pressure range of from about 100 mtorr to 4 torr.

An illustrative low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process is described below.

In the first step of such illustrative LPCVD process, reactants are introduced into the reaction chamber. Such reactants can be diluted with inert gases, if and as needed, to facilitate reaction control and homogeneous mixing. The reactants are diffused onto the substrate and are adsorbed on the substrate surface.

In a second step of the LPCVD process, the reactants adsorbed on the substrate undergo migration and/or chemically react on the surface, with gaseous byproducts of the reaction being desorbed to leave behind the deposited film.

The co-reactant deposition may be carried out to form silicon nitride, silicon dioxide or silicon oxynitride films in any suitable reactor, e.g., a vertical flow isothermal LPCVD reactor. A vertical reactor is usefully employed to avoid wafer-to-wafer reactant depletion effects; such reactor does not require temperature ramping, and produces highly uniform deposited films.

The vacuum system utilized for providing the low pressure condition of the LPCVD process can be of any suitable type, and can for example include a dry pump or rotary vane pump/roots blower combination and various cold traps if and as needed. Reactor pressure can be controlled by a capacitance manometer feedback to a throttle valve controller.

Use of a conventional LPCVD system to carry out reactions of the co-reactant scheme (C), at reactor loadings of eighty 200 or 300 mm diameter silicon wafers at 4-9 mm spacing, produced a uniform conductance around the wafer peripheries by compensating for conductance restrictions attributable to the boats and the sled in such system. The temperature uniformity across the wafer load was ±1° C. as measured by an internal multi-junction thermocouple. Deposition uniformity down the wafer load was improved by employing a temperature ramp. Changing the reactant to precursor ratios from 100:1 to 1:1 optimized deposition conditions. The pressure was typically below 1 torr, being varied from 100 mtorr to 1 torr, and the optimum deposition temperature was in a range of from about 100° C. to about 550° C. In general, the invention may be carried out with delivery of precursors in neat form, via liquid delivery, or bubbler or vaporizer. Solvents can be employed for liquid delivery, such as organic solvents, e.g., amine solvents such as NR_(x)H_(3-x) wherein R is H or C₁-C₄ alkyl, etc.

As another example of specific precursors useful in the general practice of the invention to form silicon-containing films, such as silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride films, silicate gate materials and low k dielectrics, tetrakisdiethylamidodichlorodisilane, (NEt₂)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂ is a precursor containing a silicon-silicon bond with only two chlorines in the molecule, and amido groups which are efficient leaving groups in the formation of silicon-containing films having a low carbon contamination characteristic.

Tetrakisdiethylamidodichlorodisilane is readily synthesized as hereinafter more fully described in Example 5 hereof, and is usefully employed to form silicon-containing films of good quality, such as films of silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, etc., by low pressure CVD.

The features and advantages of the invention are more fully shown by the following illustrative and non-limiting examples.

Example 1 Synthesis of (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃

In a 5 L flask, 152 g (0.565 mol) of Cl₃SiSiCl₃ was added with 4 L of hexanes. The flask was cooled to 0° C. using an ice-bath. EtNH₂ (400 g, 8.87 mol; b.p. 32° C.) was added to the flask under magnetic stirring. White precipitate material was observed immediately. Upon completion of the addition, the ice-bath was removed and the flask was allowed to warm up to room temperature. The reaction mixture was kept stirring overnight and then refluxed for another two hours. After the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, it was filtered through a glass frit filter. The solvent was removed from the filtrate under vacuum. Crude product (152 g) was obtained (84% yield). The pure product ((HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃) was obtained from fractional distillation at about 95° C. under 120 mtorr. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra respectively. FIG. 3 shows the STA data. ¹H NMR (C₆D₆): δ 0.67 (br, 6H, N—H), 1.07 (t, 18H), 2.91 (p, 12H); ¹³C {¹H} NMR (C₆D₆): δ 20.8 (CH₃), 35.9 (CH₂); C₁₂H₃₆N₆Si₂ Calcd: C, 44.95; H, 11.32; N, 26.21. Found: C, 44.69; H, 10.75; N, 25.85.

The STA data showed the T₅₀ value of (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃ to be about 185° C., evidencing good volatility and transport properties for chemical vapor deposition.

Example 2 Synthesis of (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂

In a 250 mL flask with 180 mL of diethyl ether, 5 g (18.6 mmol) of Cl₃SiSiCl₃ was added. The flask was cooled to 0° C. in an ice-bath. Under magnetically stirring, Bu^(t)NH₂ (13.6 g/186 mmol) in 30 mL of ether was added into the flask dropwise. White precipitate material was formed immediately. Upon completion of the addition, the ice-bath was removed and the flask was allowed to warm up to room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight and then refluxed for another two hours. After the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, it was filtered through a frit filter. Removal of volatiles from the filtrate gave 6.10 g of white solid crude product in 79% yield. It can further purified by recrystallization from its hexanes-THF mixture solution at 0° C. The crystals have been characterized by X-ray analysis. Shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra, respectively. FIG. 6 shows the STA data for the product, (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂, which had a T₅₀ value of about 196° C., evidencing good volatility and transport properties for chemical vapor deposition.

¹H NMR (C₆D₆): δ 1.28 (s, 36H), 1.59 (br, 4H, N—H), ¹³C {¹H} NMR (C₆D₆): δ 33.4 (CH₃), 50.8 (C); C₁₆H₄₀Cl₂N₄Si₂ Calcd: C, 46.24; H, 9.70; N, 13.48. Found: C, 45.98; H, 9.99; N, 13.14.

Example 3 Synthesis of (Bu^(t)NH)₂Si(H)Cl

The general reactions were carried out under a steady flow of nitrogen. A 500 mL Schlenk flask equipped a magnetic stirring bar, was charged with 250 mL of dry ether and 21.6 g of ^(t)BuNH₂ and. To this flask, 10 g, 73.8 mmol of HSiCl₃ in 50 mL of ether was added dropwise at 0° C. Upon completion of the addition, the mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was then refluxed for an additional 4 hours. It was cooled to room temperature and filtered through Celite®. Solvents were removal of by quick distillation or vacuum. The crude yield was 80%. It was then purified by fractional vacuum distillation to around 98% in purity. The product, (Bu^(t)NH)₂Si(H)Cl, was characterized by solution NMR in C₆D₆ (FIG. 7). ¹H NMR (C₆D₆), (ppm), 5.48 (t, 1H), 1.09 (s, 18H).

Example 4 Synthesis of 1-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane

The general reactions were carried out under a steady flow of nitrogen using Schlenk techniques. A 250 mL Schlenk flask was charged with 9.22 g, 44.2 mmol of di(tert-butylamino)(chloro)silane in 150 mL of hexanes and a stir bar. Then 26 mL of 1.7 M tert-butyllithium solution in patane was added into the Schlenk flask slowly at 0° C., under magnetic stirring. A white precipitate of LiCl formed during the addition. Upon completion of the addition, the mixture was refluxed overnight. The reaction mixture was then allowed to cool and filtered through Celite® to obtain a slightly yellow clear solution. All volatiles were removed under vacuum and the crude yield was about 60%. This crude product was purified by vacuum column distillation. The pure product was received while the oil bath temperature was set to 170° C. and the vacuum at 200 mtorr. It was characterized by solution NMR in C₆D₆ (FIG. 8) and STA (FIG. 9). ¹H-NMR (C₆D₆),

(ppm), 5.31 (dd, 2H, cis or trans isomer), 5.12 (d, 2H, cis or trans isomers), 1.42 (s, 18H, cis or trans isomer), 1.41 (s, 18H, cis or trans isomer) and 1.24 (s, 18H, both isomers).

Example 5 Synthesis of (NEt₂)₂ClSiSiCl(NEt₂)₂

In a 250 mL flask with 180 mL of ether, 5 g, 18.6 mmol of Cl₃SiSiCl₃ was added. The flask was cooled to 0° C. using an ice-bath. While kept stirring, Et₂NH₂, 16.3 g, 223 mmol in 30 mL of ether was added dropwise into the flask. Upon completion of addition, the ice-bath was removed and the flask was allowed to warm up to room temperature. The reaction mixture was kept stirring overnight and then refluxed for another two hours. After the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, it was filtered through a frit filter. The solvent was removed from the filtrate by vacuum. The product tetrakisdiethylamidodichlorodisilane was obtained from column distillation while controlling the oil bath temperature at around 165° C. 6.35 g, 15.2 mmol product, (NEt₂)₂ClSiSiCl(NEt₂)₂, was obtained which corresponded to 82% yield. ¹H NMR in C₆D₆: 1.05 (t, 16H), 3.02 (q, 24H). C₁₆H₄₀Cl₂N₄Si₂ Calcd: C, 46.24; H, 9.70; N, 13.48. Found: C, 46.17; H, 9.73; N, 13.33.

Example 6 Silicon Nitride Deposition from (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃

A solution of the compound of Example 1, (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃, was prepared at a concentration of 0.4M in a hydrocarbon solvent. This solution was metered at 0.1 ml/minute into a vaporizer that was held at temperature of 120° C. and had a flow of 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) of He as a carrier gas. The vapor was mixed with 10 sccm of NH₃ in a showerhead vaporizer device that was maintained at 120° C. and thereby dispersed over the surface of a heated Si(100) wafer. The chamber pressure was maintained at 10 torr during deposition. The growth rate of the silicon nitride films decreased from 470 Å/minute at a wafer temperature of 625° C. to 26 Å/minute at 450° C. as shown in FIG. 10.

Chemical analysis of the films, by a combination of RBS (Rutherford Backscattering), HFS (Hydrogen Forward Scattering), and NRA (Nuclear Reaction Analysis), revealed that higher pressures and higher NH₃ flows increased the N/Si ratio to the stoichiometric value of 1.33 and decreased the impurity carbon content as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Film composition for various deposition conditions using the precursor (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃. Rate NH3 T P (Å/ H C O (sccm) (° C.) (torr) min) n (at %) (at %) (at %) N/Si 10 550 10 196 1.87 20.5 13.5 13.3 1.15 100 530 40 72 1.78 25.5 5.2 11.2 1.31 100 530 80 59 1.79 21.5 5 5.9 1.37 140 624 80 184 1.84 14.5 3.6 0.9 1.36

Example 7 Silicon Nitride Deposition with a Pulsed Process from (HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃

(HNEt)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃ was vaporized continuously at a rate of 100 μmol/minute at 120° C. with 10 sccm of He carrier gas and directed either to the deposition process or to a process bypass. NH₃ was supplied continuously to the process at 10 sccm.

During the periods when precursor was directed to the process, the NH₃ was activated only by the temperature of the wafer surface. An increased transmissive optical frequency range was observed, indicating a higher band gap, when the precursor supply time to the wafer was decreased relative to the precursor supply time to the bypass. Alternatively, during the periods where the precursor was directed to the bypass, a hot filament network above the wafer surface was heated to supplement the activation of the NH₃. The filament either was made of tungsten and held at 2000K or it was made of Pt and held at 600° C.

The period of time during which the precursor was directed at the process was enough to deposit at least a few monolayers. The period of time during which the precursor was directed to bypass was enough to increase the N:Si ratio to above 1.3. The NH₃ supply was constantly directed to the chamber, or diverted to bypass when the precursor was supplied to the wafer surface. Additionally, during the time when the precursor was directed to bypass, the chamber pressure was able to be increased to substantially higher than the deposition pressure (e.g., 100 Torr). The precursor and pulsed nitrogen source were also able to be separated temporally.

Example 8 Silicon Nitride Deposition from (NEt₂)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂

A solution of the compound of Example 5, (NEt₂)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂, was prepared at a concentration of 0.4M in a hydrocarbon solvent. This solution was metered at 0.2 ml/minute into a vaporizer that was maintained at temperature of 120° C. and had a flow of 10 sccm of He as a carrier gas. The vapor was mixed with 10 sccm of NH₃ in a showerhead vapor disperser device that was held at temperature of 120° C., and thereby dispersed over the surface of a heated Si(100) wafer. The chamber pressure was maintained at pressure of 10 torr during deposition. The growth rate of the silicon nitride films decreased from 650 Å/minute at a wafer temperature of 625° C. to 9 Å/minute at 450° C., as shown in FIG. 11. (The index of refraction, n, was >2.2 in all cases, and some films contained Cl.)

Example 9 Silicon Nitride Deposition from cyclotrimethylene-bis(t-butylamino)silane

A solution of the compound cyclotrimethylene-bis(t-butylamino)silane was prepared at a concentration of 0.4M in a hydrocarbon solvent. This solution was metered at 0.2 ml/minute into a vaporizer that was maintained at temperature of 120° C. and had a flow of 10 sccm of He as a carrier gas. The vapor was mixed with 10 sccm of NH₃ in a showerhead vapor disperser that was held at temperature of 120° C. and thereby dispersed over the surface of a heated Si(100) wafer. The chamber pressure was maintained at 2, 5, or 10 torr during deposition. The growth rate of the silicon nitride films decreased from 53 Å/minute at a wafer temperature of 625° C. to 9 Å/minute at 575° C. as shown in FIG. 12. There was no measurable effect of pressure on the growth rate, however, which increased from 1.65 to 1.73 as the pressure decreased from 10 torr to 2 torr at 575° C.

Example 10 Silicon Nitride Deposition from η-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane

A solution of the compound of Example 4, η-(N,N-t-butyl)-di(t-butylamino)cyclodisilane, was prepared at a concentration of 0.4M in a hydrocarbon solvent. This solution was metered at 0.2 ml/minute into a vaporizer that was held at 120° C. and had a flow of 10 sccm of He as a carrier gas. The vapor was mixed with 10 sccm of NH₃ in a showerhead vapor disperser that was held at 120° C. and the vapor was thereby dispersed over the surface of a heated Si(100) wafer. The chamber pressure was maintained at 10 torr during deposition. The growth rate of the silicon nitride films decreased from 15 Å/minute at a wafer temperature of 625° C. to 2 Å/minute at 575° C. as shown FIG. 13.

While the invention has been described herein with reference to various specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is not thus limited, and extends to and encompasses various other modifications and embodiments, as will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, in accordance with the ensuing claims. 

1. A method of forming silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) on a substrate, comprising contacting the substrate with (i) a precursor of the formula [SiX_(n)(NR¹R²)_(3-n)]₂ wherein: R¹ and R² may be the same as or different from one another and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen (e.g., bromine, fluorine and chlorine), hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2; and (ii) a nitrogen source compound.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said nitrogen source compound comprises ammonia.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said nitrogen source compound is selected from the group consisting of R₃Si—N₃, R—N═NR′ and R—N═N⁺═NR′, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₃ alkyl substituents, and R′ is R or H.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said nitrogen source compound is selected from the group consisting of (i) R-diazo compounds, wherein R is H, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, (ii) triazoles, (iii) tetrazoles, (iv) amadines, (v) silylazides, (vi) aziridines, and (vii) molecules including organic acyclic or cyclic moieties that contain one or more —N—N bonds.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out at temperature below 600° C.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out at temperature below 550° C.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out at temperature below 500° C.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out at temperature in a range of from 350° C. to 500° C.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out at temperature in a range of from 100° C. to 350° C.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the precursor is transported to the substrate in a carrier gas.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the carrier gas comprises helium.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out in a chemical vapor deposition process.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said contacting is carried out at pressure in a range of from about 1 to about 1000 torr.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting is carried out in an atomic layer deposition process.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor is selected from the group consisting of (Et₂N)₂ClSi—SiCl(NEt₂)₂, (EtNH)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃, (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂, (Me₂N)₂ClSi—SiCl(NMe₂)₂, Cl₂HSi—SiHCl₂, and (EtNH)₂HSi—SiH(NHEt)₂.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor is selected from the group consisting of (EtNH)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃, (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂, and (EtNH)₂HSi—SiH(NHEt)₂.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor is selected from the group consisting of: (i) precursors of said formula wherein: R¹═R²═C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2; (ii) precursors of said formula wherein: at least one of R¹ and R² is H, and the other is selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅ alkyl, and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2; (iii) precursors of said formula wherein: one of R¹ and R² is H, and the other is C₁-C₅ alkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen and deuterium; and 0≦n≦2; and (iv) precursors of said formula wherein: one of R¹ and R² is H, and the other is ethyl or butyl; X is chlorine; and n is 0 or
 1. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor comprises (EtNH)₃Si—Si(HNEt)₃.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor comprises (Bu^(t)NH)₂ClSi—SiCl(HNBu^(t))₂.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said precursor comprises (EtNH)₂HSi—SiH(NHEt)₂. 